An excellent point. It becomes important in verses like this:
Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel."
The name House of Israel was assigned to the Northern Kingdom as part of their Eternal Heritage, and it was never Jewish. Therefore, this is NOT a command to go first to Jews.
The House of Israel became The Lost Tribes of Israel who over 600 years earlier had won their freedom from the Assyrians. These now over 5 MILLION Israelites (Lost Tribes) moved out quickly to the West and North where they became known to history as The CELTS. It was to these non-Jewish CELTS in Galatia, etc., that Jesus first sent his 12 apostles.
The Northern Kingdom Israelites were not Jews. But they were also never called Gentiles. They were simply the The Lost Sheep of the House of Israel. And all the promises they received as Israelites were, and are, still good today.
The name House of Israel was assigned to the Northern Kingdom as part of their Eternal Heritage, and it was never Jewish. Therefore, this is NOT a command to go first to Jews.
Correct, and lets not forget this happened before AD 70 (obviously), so it cannot be explained that this was referring to the Jewish diaspora which happened after this date.